About
Steve Tafoya
Decades of leadership, regulatory experience, and professional judgment brought to independent mediation.
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Biography
Steve Tafoya brings more than 25 years of leadership, operational, regulatory, and business experience to independent mediation. His career spans hospital and emergency medical services administration, statewide healthcare regulation, executive management, and commercial negotiations.
He has led healthcare operations, overseen regulatory responsibilities, and worked with public agencies, healthcare professionals, and organizational stakeholders. His broader executive work includes business operations, corporate strategy, and compliance. These responsibilities inform his understanding of the operational, financial, and professional considerations that can underlie a dispute.
His graduate education in business administration and legal studies complements formal mediation training and hands-on mediation experience. He continues to support mediator training as a volunteer practice mediation proctor. As an independent neutral, he brings this professional background to a process in which the parties retain responsibility for their decisions.
The Meaning Behind Midline
Why Midline?
In anatomy, the midline is a central point of reference: an orientation from which position and perspective can be understood. In mediation, neutrality serves much the same purpose.
The word mediation has its roots in the Latin mediare, meaning to be in the middle or intervene. But effective mediation is not about forcing parties toward the midpoint of their positions.
It is about providing a neutral environment where complex issues can be explored, perspectives can be heard, and parties can work toward informed, lasting solutions. That is the philosophy behind Midline Mediation.
Education
- Master of Business Administration, healthcare administration focus, Auburn University
- Master of Legal Studies, Business Law and Corporate Compliance, Arizona State University
- Emerging Leaders Program, Harvard Kennedy School
Mediation Training & Experience
- Professional mediation training, National Judicial College
- Volunteer mediation practice proctor, National Judicial College
- Practical mediation casework, Neighborhood Mediation Center, Reno
Executive & Regulatory Experience
- Former Nevada State EMS Program Manager
- Senior Manager, EMS & Emergency Management, Banner Churchill Community Hospital
- Executive leadership in business operations, strategy, compliance and commercial negotiations
Professional Philosophy
Preparation
Understanding the issues, the people and the constraints before the session begins.
Impartiality
Remaining independent of the parties and treating each participant impartially.
Professional judgment
Evaluating proposed arrangements against relevant operational and financial considerations.
Request a Mediation Consultation.
Submit general information about the matter and preferred timing. Acceptance of a mediation engagement is subject to conflict screening, applicable legal and court requirements, and agreement of the parties.